PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Projected Lineups: New England Patriots | ProFootballFocus.com

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Projected Lineups: New England Patriots | ProFootballFocus.com

Good stuff from Steve Palazzolo breaking down the Pats’ roster, although I’m sure some will take issue with Brady not being labelled “high quality” and not “elite”. 

I also don’t see Mayo moving to middle linebacker, put Hightower there, Collins at SLB and let Mayo stay at WLB where he’s protected to use his speed. 

Would like to see some or all of the corners get up into the green this year. Dennard showed flashes over his first two seasons but I think last year his off the field stuff and injuries were responsible for a down year.

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When Bill hits the field and the whistle blows to start the game Belichick is in a race. He’s not just in a moment, he’s in a race to figure how [the opponent] wants to play the game. Once he figures it out, then he makes his adjustments.

Michael Lombardi

Congrats to Michael Lombardi for officially joining the Pats. Always enjoyed his insight into BB when he was an analyst and hopefully someday we’ll get to hear more of it, now with direct Pats experience.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/when-bill-hits-the-field-and-the-whistle-blows-to/

Who on each side of the ball needs to improve the most for that side to be better

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It has to be Dobson on the offensive side of the ball, although I’d fully expect an open competition at every receiver spot and he won’t be handed the starting X job. 

I’ll be curious to see how Thompkins progresses as well. I really liked him at the start of the season but the double-catches and constant leaving his feet to catch the ball started to grow some doubt in my mind if he really was as good as a lot of us thought he was coming out of training camp. He could be starting or cut and neither would surprise me.

Defensively I think it has to be Jamie Collins. Can he become a three-down linebacker? Will he permanently takeover the nickel linebacker spot next to Mayo? He really flashed some star potential in the playoffs and if he can become that kind of impact player the whole defense will take a big step forward. He’s the perfect kind of linebacker for today’s NFL and especially for the Pats’ defense. 

mike I think we’re at that point where we can use hindsight to finally say that not bringing wes welker back was an OK thing to do. sure he was way better than edelmandola, but how much more of a difference would that have made? he was a part of a bigger whole and with the “whole” changing around him, he wasn’t someone that you look to create a new “whole” around. in the pats perfect world, i think they still would’ve picked up dobson boyce and thompkins to complement the te’s.

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Yeah, I was on board with it from the start of last offseason. I loved Welker, but as we saw this year, the injuries/concussions are starting to catch up with him. 

And to be honest I feel similar about Edelman. Slot receivers in the Pats’ system are never irreplaceable and I think with a year of experience and health Amendola would be fine to take over for Edelman. Let’s not forget it took Edelman until his fifth season to stay fully healthy and make an impact. If they can bring Edelman back for a reasonable number, I’m all for it, but they will not and should not break the bank for him.

As for Welker, he could be looking for a new home again this offseason. And don’t even ask, he’s not coming back.